Earlier than setting off on a hike, you all the time plan the place you’re going, the timing, and what to take with you, proper? You also needs to plan forward learn how to hike (or camp) safely round wildlife. Particularly bears. It’d seem to be you’ll solely encounter bears if you happen to go to Yellowstone, the Smoky Mountains, or Alaska. However bears occupy a a lot better space. Do you know that black bears are present in 40 of the 50 states of the US?
Black bear and grizzly bear ranges are growing 12 months after 12 months, so earlier than touring to the wilderness, be sure you test if it’s bear nation. Whether it is, learn on for our security recommendations on learn how to hike in bear nation.
Don’t assume that as a result of it’s chilly, bears might be tucked away of their dens. Simply final month (in November) we had a household of 5 bears in our yard within the mountains of North Carolina. Additionally, grizzly bears would possibly come out of hibernation in early March in Yellowstone.
At all times carry bear spray and know learn how to use it earlier than you set off in your journey. Bear spray is just not allowed on planes, so if you’re flying to your vacation spot you’ll want to purchase it within the space. REI carries them. Watch the video on the finish of this publish to discover ways to use a bear spray. *Don’t discharge the bear spray indoors*, be taught to make use of it open air.
NEVER EVER give meals to a bear, strategy it, attempt to get a selfie with a bear, or attempt to pet it. If you’re in a nationwide park and see somebody doing this, take a photograph (attempt to embrace the license plate quantity) and report them on the workplace. A fed bear is a useless bear.
Mountaineering in bear nation
- In case you see a bear earlier than it notices you: stand nonetheless, don’t strategy, and benefit from the second. If it’s shifting in your route, be sure he is aware of you’re there and announce your self with a loud and grave “Hey Bear”. The bear will almost definitely flip round. In case you don’t announce your presence you would possibly startle the bear when it’s too shut and it’d react violently. (I imply, if you happen to startle me I’d scream so it’s comprehensible to have a response.) As soon as the bear is shifting away, transfer away quietly in the wrong way. We had an encounter with a mom grizzly and her cub in British Columbia and we did this. You may learn the story here.
- In case you encounter a bear that’s conscious of you: don’t run; operating might set off a chase response. Again away slowly in the wrong way and watch for the bear to go away.
- Pay attention to your environment, attempt to make noise periodically, and don’t use earbuds.
- Don’t hike alone.
- Preserve youngsters nearby.
- Make noise in thick cowl.
- Be additional conscious when foraging for berries or nuts. Bears are doing the identical!
- At all times KEEP YOUR PETS ON A LEASH or depart them at house. Canines might harass bears and trigger them stress, and in return, a bear might assault your canine.
- Don’t litter. Pack out your trash. Getting bears habituated to human meals sources makes them extra more likely to have harmful encounters with people.
- Don’t get between a mom and her cub. If a mom thinks her cub is at risk, she is going to defend it. In case you see a cub, all the time search for mother and remember.
Tenting in bear nation
- Arrange backcountry camps away from dense cowl and pure meals sources.
- Preserve your camp clear. Don’t depart meals sitting round, and all the time lock it up (within the automotive, or in a bear-resistant container) if you happen to exit for a hike.
- Don’t hold something that smells like meals or toiletries in your tent. No snacks, no toothpaste, no deodorant, no sodas, no lip balm, no sunscreen, no bug spray.
- In case you camp along with your pet and must hold a litter tray within the tent, use unscented litter and hold it clear. No pet treats both.
- If automotive tenting, hold meals and toiletries inside a locked automobile and ensure all of the home windows are closed. Bears have discovered learn how to open unlocked automobiles and learn how to bust opened home windows.
- If backpacking, hold meals and toiletries suspended at the least 10 ft above the bottom and 10 ft from any a part of the tree. Some parks have already got a system in place (see pink arrow within the photograph beneath from a backcountry campsite in Yellowstone). This regulation would possibly range from nationwide park to nationwide park so all the time test for rules on the park’s entrance.
Cooking in bear nation
- When cooking don’t dump meals waste in your fireplace (or exterior the hearth for that matter). No bean sauce, or meat fats, or the rest.
- Prepare dinner away out of your tent so that you don’t appeal to bears to your sleeping space. Many areas suggest a “bear-muda triangle” strategy, along with your tent on the first nook (ideally upwind), your meals storage at one other nook, and your cook dinner space on the third, separated by 100 yards. A variation places your wash-up space at yet one more distant level.
- Put all of the trash in a bag inside a bear-proof storage locker or trash can that almost all campgrounds present. If none is out there, put the trash inside your locked automotive. If you’re on a backpacking journey, spend money on a bear-resistant food container.
Bear in mind to hold your bear spray inside attain, don’t pack it within the backside of your backpack.
WATCH THIS VIDEO AND LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR BEAR SPRAY
Bears aren’t out to get you
Bear in mind, bears aren’t out to get you. They’re simply going about their lives such as you and me. And such as you, they’d moderately not get right into a battle. If we be taught to respect bears moderately than concern them, and take just a few frequent sense precautions, we will all dwell collectively fortunately.
